Raylan Givens was, in Tim's experience, a man with one of the strongest will and grounded sense of reality he had ever met. He held his ground and watched as the older marshal began to shake his head and run through reasons to keep blindly diving through the woods.

Tim's own natural ability to read people was telling him that Raylan was starting to talk himself down, or at least in a different direction. The sniper stayed in place, trying to avoid putting pressure on his partner in any particular direction. He had full confidence that if he had to lay Raylan out, for the cowboy's own good, he could do it but he certainly did not want them going down that route.

It felt like it would be better for Raylan if he was able to walk himself back from whatever edge Mathias had nearly driven him over. Yeah, yeah, toxic masculine pride and all that, but Tim had lived that environment and used it as defense against situations that put the fear of God into him. Some habits were hard to break.

"I know you could," he said softly and he glanced over his shoulder to look in the direction Raylan had been staring. "Do you honestly believe it's the right play here?"

The question was a risk. Raylan may latch on to the idea and bolt like a half broke colt. If so, Tim would follow and do his damndest to keep the older man safe and sound. But that odd telepathy between partners, that they never talk about, suggested there was an even chance that Raylan would take the safe out the question offered.